British Pound Falls Against USD as UK Budget Deficit Spikes
The British pound fell to around $1.34 at the foreign exchange market on Tuesday due to spiral sell pressure following a significant spike in UK government borrowing to fund public sector spending ahead of consumer data.
The sterling hits its week low versus the dollar as the UK government borrowed £7.2 billion more than forecast in the first half of the fiscal year.
The UK public finances report showed that the deficit edged up. The Office for National Statistics reported that the current budget deficit was £13.4 billion in September 2025.
The amount was £2.3 billion or 21.2% more than in September 2024. Borrowing widened in relation to Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projections. “The current budget deficit, borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities, was £13.4 billion in September 2025.
This brings the total current budget deficit in the financial year to September 2025 to £71.8 billion, which is £10.6 billion (or 17.2%) more than in the same six-month period of 2024”, the report highlights.
The market anticipated the release of UK consumer price index for September on Wednesday. Given the base effect, a 0.1% increase would lift the year-over-year rate to 4.0% from 3.8% in August.
The core rate is expected to edge up by 10 basis points to 3.7% from 3.6%, with service prices creeping up to 4.8% from 4.7%. Meanwhile, the Bank of England is scheduled to meet next week
The huge UK government borrowing underscore the tough fiscal challenge facing Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the November 26 budget.
The budget deficit hit £99.8 billion, above the £92.6 billion projected by the OBR, as debt-interest costs surged 66% to £9.7 billion in September, the highest for that month on record.
The deterioration, driven by high inflation, rising welfare costs, and weak tax receipts, raises fears that Reeves may need up to £35 billion in spending cuts or tax hikes to meet his fiscal rules.
Sterling has gone nowhere in the past three sessions but is breaking down today. It recovered from last Tuesday’s three-and-a-half-month low near $1.3250.
It reached $1.3455 on Thursday and $1.3470 ahead of the weekend before pulling back to settle slightly above $1.3425. The GBPUSD pair was in roughly the $1.3400-45 range yesterday.
The FX trade on the pair has been sold to a four-day low near $1.3370. # British Pound Falls Against USD as UK Budget Deficit Spikes #Airtel Africa Keeps Tight Position in Stock Market, Price Stagnates
